Ole Miss coach clarified status of LSU-bound…
Pete Golding said it’s up to LSU on which former Ole Miss assistants — now on Lane Kiffin’s Tigers workers — are allowed to coach in the College Football Playoff semifinal, and those selections are beginning to come into focus.
Running backs coach Kevin Smith gained’t return for the Rebels’ sport Thursday in the Fiesta Bowl against No. 10-seed Miami, according to 247Sports, while offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. is probably going “the only one of the main LSU assistants” to continue with their former workforce the remainder of the postseason.
Tight ends coach/co-offensive coordinator Joe Cox and huge receivers coach/passing sport coordinator George McDonald have also signed contracts and determined to observe Kiffin to LSU, according to ESPN.
Pete Golding is pictured Jan. 1. Imagn Images
Their status stays unclear after reportedly being on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge for visits when the switch portal opened Friday.
“They have every opportunity like they have up to this point to be able to make that decision,” Golding told reporters Saturday, according to ESPN. “So week in and week out, I don’t dictate whether they do that or not, because they’re not employed by me. Up to this point, that’s how it’s been, and that’s my expectation.”
This all turns into the latest wrinkle in the Kiffin saga that has linked the pair of applications throughout the end of 2025 until the Ole Miss run ends, with Kiffin bolting for LSU and its seven-year, $91 million contract after the Ole Miss common season.
Charlie Weis Jr. (r.) is pictured Nov. 8. Getty Images
He wasn’t allowed to coach the No. 6-seed Rebels in the CFP despite wanting to.
Instead, Golding took over as head coach and led Ole Miss to a convincing win over Tulane in the first spherical and then a stunning upset of Georgia in the quarterfinals.
The assistants who adopted Kiffin had been allowed to coach the Rebels up until this level, but an nameless source told ESPN that there “are going to be some fireworks” for this next stage.
“Our players know what to do,” Golding said, according to ESPN. “It’s going to have no impact on the game. Keep blowing it up and making it a big deal, it’d be great.”
The winner of the Ole Miss-Miami semifinal will advance to face either No. 5-seed Oregon or No. 1-seed Indiana in the championship sport.
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